Former Luggage Dealer's 99th Birthday Bash Packs 'em In

July 11, 2004|By Jerry Libonati Staff Writer

The Tamarac home of Barbara Clark was bustling with the sound of partygoers over the Fourth of July weekend. It wasn't the holiday that attracted about 80 revelers from as far away as California. It was the 99th birthday celebration of Clark's father, Robert Uttal.

"It was wonderful, he was so thrilled," said Clark. "He didn't expect that many people. All his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were there except one who had his great-great-granddaughter that weekend," said Clark.

Closing in on 100 years, Uttal's only comment about the milestone was a short and sweet, "It's good."

Good because he continues to enjoy his favorite pastimes. "He likes the movies, he reads and plays a mean game of bridge," said Clark.

A native New Yorker, Uttal was born in the city on June 28, 1905 but lived most of his life just north of it in Mt. Vernon where he owned a luggage and leather goods store. He married his first wife Ida in 1926 and had three children. His second partner was Edna Nelson who passed a decade ago.

Uttal was active in the retail business and served as president of the National Luggage Dealer's Association in the early 1950s. At 75, he retired and moved to North Miami Beach where he lived alone until two years ago when he stopped driving and decided to share the Clark household in Tamarac.

"His greatest accomplishment is his family," said Clark, of the nine grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and one new great-great-grandchild. "He takes a tremendous amount of pride in his family."

It may be the reason so many of them attended the open house, where they ate, drank and were entertained by Clark's 9-year-old grand-niece Melissa Bloom, a dance student.

Jerry Libonati can be reached at jlibonati@sun-sentinel.com, or 954-572-2014.